Runaway league leaders Valletta not only maintained their unbeaten record at the weekend, but they also extended their lead by three points – to 12.
Their 2-0 victory against second-placed Tarxien was yet another confirmation of the superiority the citizens are enjoying this season.
With Floriana easily beating bottom placed Vittoriosa Stars, the Greens have now joined Tarxien in second place, while Birkirkara remain fourth despite a 2-0 setback against Marsaxlokk – a defeat which might sound like a crisis hitting the outgoing champions. On the positive side, Hibernians finally scored a win – after four months.
Henry Brincat analyses the situation as it is at present. When the clubs have now played 14 matches each, Valletta are the only team to have ascertained themselves of a place in the Top Six so far.
There is no stopping Valletta this season. If ever there was a doubt, this might have been cancelled last Sunday as Jesmond Zerafa’s boys overcame Tarxien Rainbows by two clear goals – a victory which enabled the citizens to open a 12-point lead at the top of the same Tarxien and Floriana.
The Greens found little difficulty in disposing of the feeble challenge offered by bottom club Vittoriosa Stars – depleted by the absence of some key players - and have now moved to joint second place, something they haven’t tasted for many years.
It seems useless to write about Valletta’s superiority this season every week. The team’s potential is there for all to see and the boys are giving their numerous fans a lot to shout about. Every match they play is seeing them moving closer to the title they richly deserve.
They are well prepared and there is certainly no question about the strength of the side – they possess the best elements in Maltese football at present.
What is certainly not in their favour is the fact that they will see their opponents getting closer when the points are reduced by half at the end of the first phase. For me it has always been ridiculous to see the leaders and the teams enjoying the top places in the first phase lose ground at the start of the second phase.
Yet last week’s decision by the MFA Council to increase the number of teams to 12 while keeping almost the same format (points reduced by half at the end of the first phase with half the teams in the Championship Pool and the other half contesting the Relegation Pool) means that everything will remain as it is at present. In short, the only change is in the number of teams – from 10 to 12 – taking part in the competition.
Back to the weekend matches, one cannot say that Tarxien, despite being defeated, were brought down to earth. Far from it. They did just what was expected of them and provided Valletta with a more decent opposition than they did in the first round.
The Rainbows must be aware that they do not have the potential to challenge for the title, but I am sure they will be able to maintain their strong challenge not only for a place in the Top Six, but also to finish among the Top Three and earn a historic berth in the Europa League next season.
Noel Coleiro’s boys had to play second fiddle for most of the time against Valletta, but after all, who didn’t this season?
Following their defeat, they have now been joined by Floriana in second place, both on 24 points – a distant 12 from Valletta, who have 36.
The Greens confirmed their revival under Todor Raykov who has led the side to such an exalted placing after so many seasons in the wilderness.
Floriana have become a strong side this season and their administration must be commended for doing its homework well even if the side still lacks the potential to challenge for the title. The signing of Daniel Nwoke must be considered as providential at this stage.
But what I said of Tarxien also applies to the Greens. I firmly believe they can maintain their current positive trend which will lead them to a Top Six berth and hopefully a place in next season’s Europa League.
Fourth placed Birkirkara seem to be in a crisis – not the first one this season. Paul Zammit so far had to face an injury and suspension crisis. Now the team is facing a points crisis as it went down 2-0 against Marsaxlokk – a second consecutive defeat.
The team remains on 20 points and they still have to work hard to earn their Top Six place.
On the other hand, Marsaxlokk have moved closer to the Stripes in the standings and it seems as if this will be the true battle in the competition this season.
In fact, Tarxien and Floriana are close to ascertaining themselves of a place, but only a few points separate Birkirkara, Hamrun, Marsaxlokk, Sliema and Qormi while Hibernians could also come back into the reckoning considering that four matches still have to be played by all the clubs before the end of the first phase.
Marsaxlokk made the most of the gaps in the Birkirkara defence in the second half to register a double against the Stripes.
The Paolites did themselves a world of good as they forgot all about what happened in the past four months to register their first victory against Hamrun.
It all materialised in a second half which saw them scoring three times to turn a 2-1 deficit into a 4-2 win. That victory has enabled Mark Miller’s boys to breathe more freely now and they can also look forward with optimism ahead of their forthcoming matches which can see them saving their disastrous start to the season.
The Spartans have also suffered a second defeat in succession and, like the Stripes, seem to be facing a points crisis.
Unless the two sides start winning again, they are bound to find it very difficult to find a place among the Top Six.
Their chances, however, increased after Qormi and Sliema figured in a goalless draw on Saturday.
The point earned by both sides might be considered useful, but it did little to push the two sides further up the table in their quest for a Top Six berth.
Although the two sides had their chances, neither side managed to score with Sliema’s Obifuele missing the greatest chance of all in the final moments.
Best player
Daniel Nwoke (Floriana FC)
The former Msida player, now on the books of Floriana FC, has already become a hero among the Floriana fans.
He has now scored four goals in the two matches he has played for the club since his arrival earlier this month.
Not only, but his forceful play is giving the Greens a better image of a team looking ahead with great optimism.
I expect Nwoke to lead the side to a successful run which might even lead them back to European football next season.
Top scorers
12 goals T. Scerri (Valletta)
8 goals A. Effiong (Marsaxlokk) , D. Rocha dos Santos (Valletta), G. Spiteri (Hamrun S.)
6 goals I. Woods (Floriana)
5 goals JP Mifsud Triganza (Sliema), D. Mariano Bueno (Tarxien R.), A. Ewurum (Vittoriosa S.), K. Sammut (Valletta), P. McManus (Hibernians), M. Grima (Hamrun S.), E. Lattes (Birkirkara)
4 goals M. Pereira (Hamrun S.), S. Pacheco de Oliveira, R. Costa (Tarxien), M. Galea (Birkirkara), O. Obifuele (Sliema), D. Nwoke (Floriana)
Next matches
Saturday 22 January
(at Ta’ Qali national stadium)
2pm Birkirkara-Hamrun S.
4pm Valletta-Marsaxlokk
Sunday 23 January
(at Hibernians stadium)
2pm Hibernians-Vittoriosa S.
4pm Floriana-Qormi
Monday 24 January
(at Victor Tedesco stadium)
7.30pm Sliema W. Tarxien R.